I just love how mainstream media can tear our little industry a new one with their annoying, but effective “gatekeepers of information” mantra. Apparently reporters for the powerful Reuters news service were on hand for the private unveiling of Microsoft’s Halo 3 beta on Friday, and they immediately went for the graphics jugular with their story.

Third sentence in, “the graphics could use some work.” Now, I don’t argue that fact (which was quoted from a journalist from evilavatar). If we compare all the footage and screenshots for Halo 3 that have officially, as well as unofficially, been revealed to the public, with last year’s Gears of War, we wouldn’t be wrong in saying it looks like complete shit. It’s like they took Halo 2, and just spruced up the textures. A little.

We could go into a long-winded rant on why these graphics look horrible, but I’m gonna leave that one up to you guys. Personally, Microsoft could make the game faintly resemble Super Mario 64 and it would still make them millions. But yeah, I’ll stay out of this one.

I’m only talking about this story because Reuters went so quick to that whole issue. Usually in a news story, they try to summarize the most important parts in the first few sentences. And yes, the graphics are not up to snuff, but what about how the game actually plays? Yeah, not one word on that.

Also a funny note, the article is about Halo 3 getting mixed reviews from journalists, but only mentioned one of them. The rest of the dribble was from Shane Kim, the head of Microsoft Game Studios. And I’m sure he was the one giving it the better reviews, right?